Victoria’s Fairmont Empress ranked best city hotel in all of Canada

Once again the Fairmont Empress in downtown Victoria received a massive accolade as the hotel was ranked as the number one city hotel in Canada. 

This distinction was given to the Empress at the 2026 World’s Best Awards by Travel + Leisure, a notable travel news and lifestyle magazine and media company.  

Winning this award marked the second consecutive year the Empress has earned the top city hotel honour.

The Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards are held annually to recognize the leading hotels, operators, destinations and travel experiences across the globe. 

The awards are given out based on readers’ votes in the magazine’s annual survey. 

“It is an honour to be recognized as the #1 City Hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure readers for a second consecutive year,” said Dan McGowan, general manager of Fairmont Empress. 

“It is incredibly rewarding to have our valued guests return time and time again, and to vote for us as their hotel of choice once more.”

The Fairmont Empress was built in 1908, and since its completion, has often been referred to as “Canada’s Castle on the Coast.”

It is a National Historic Site with a distinguished past, a tourist hot spot and a notable architectural feature of the city. The Empress is best known for its impressive gardens, refined accommodations and its iconic Tea at the Empress. 

“This achievement reflects the dedication of our staff and our visionary owner, Nat Bosa, whose passion and continual investment ensure Fairmont Empress remains a source of pride for our community and a world-class experience for international travelers,” McGowan continued.  

“We are deeply grateful to our loyal guests, our supporters, our team and Mr. Bosa for making this recognition possible.”

In the past year, the hotel has taken some steps forward in how they serve guests and the surrounding community. 

Two of these improvements include the Bengal reopening as the hotel’s breakfast room and Q at the Empress restaurant and bar undergoing a renovation and transformation.  

Since 2014, the hotel’s owner, Nat Bosa, has put in over $60 million into the renovation and revitalization of the Empress, retaining its heritage while introducing contemporary design and amenities. 

The Fairmont Empress won the best city award with a rating of 96.08. 

Following the Empress was the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver with a rating of 95.62, the Auberge Saint-Antoine in Quebec City with a rating of 95.13 and the Ritz-Carlton in Montreal with a rating of 92.80. 

See the full list of ratings online here.